Seam-margin-opening device for sewing machines



C.`W. THOMAS AND P. W. SOMERS.'

SEAM MARGIN OPENING DEVICE. FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED IuLYza. 1920.

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AND BY Hrm/a W50/71m. l

ATTQRNEY Patented May23,1922.

CARLYIJE W. THUMAS AND PHILIP W. SOMERS, F FRIDGIIEJPOR'I, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS T0 THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F maIZETH, NEW' To all whom it may concern.'

'Be it known that we, CARLYLE W. THOMAS and PHILIP W. SOMERS, citizens of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of- Fairfiel and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seam-Margin-Upening Devices for Sewing Machines of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

i This invention relates to an improvement in the device disclosed in the United States f patent of C. W. Thomas and F. F. Bradley, I

margins of superposed plies of material rearward of the point of seam-formation during the operation of uniting the same by a line orlines of stitching,:so that subsequent tothe stitching operation and after opening the plies' the united and folded margins present the appearance of having been ironed out.

Another object of this invention is to pro'- videja presser-foot with a plurality of folding scrolls acting to complete the foldin back of the margins-of superposed plies o fabric Vrearward of the point of seam-for- ,mation The invention comprises stitch-formin and preferably trimming mechanism of wel known construction, and in its preferred embodimentincluding a presser-foot having a material dividing tongue projecting forwardly from the heel portion of its treadsurface. The l material-dividing ton e merges into an upper folding scroll, acting n I to fold back the margin, of the upper ply 't5 of material and also into a lower folding scroll acting to fold back the margin of the lower ply of material. A throat-plate is n employed having a portion thereofcut awa to provide clearance for the lower foldmg scroll and to provide an apertural to permit a feeding element to operate upon the folded margins rearward 'of the folding scrolls to not only maintain the folded margins in proper position relatively to the fold- A CORPORATION O'F N JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pml-ibd Maw 239 13922 Application filed .Tuly 28,

1920. serial No. 399,535.

ing scrolls, but also to crease the folded margms by lts action against the tread surface of the presser-foot. Another feeding element is. provided in advance of the folding scrolls 1n alinement with the latter and the feedmg element previously referred to and serves to properly directthe material margins to the folding scrolls.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a portion of a sewing machine embodying the present improvement. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation and partly in section of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1, but'as viewed in the opposite direction. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the throat-plate and feed-dogs of the sewing machine. Fig. A is a side elevation of the improved presser-foot. Fig. 5. is a bottom plan of the presser-foot.. Fig. 6 is a rear end elevation-of the y'presser-footand throat-plate, illustrating in section the stitched, trimmed and folded material as it issues therefrom. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the throat-plate, feed-dog and material dividing tongue in their relative operative positions and with the heel portion of the presser-foot shown detached from the latter. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the product of the machine after the two plies ofmaterial are opened out, illustrating that the margms present the appearance of having been ironed down.

' Referring to the drawings, thesewing machine is shown as constructed with a clothplate 1, intol which is fitted the front slide plate 2 and the throat-plate 3. The throatplate is slotted for the passage of thefeedfoot is partly cut away as at 1]; to provide `clearance for a resilient tongue 12, spaced slightly from said under-cut surface and formed at its V.forward end'V intoY aV slightly upturned, transverse material-dividing plate 12. The tongue 12 projects forwardly from a supplemental presser-plate 13, secured by means of screws, as 14, to the rear portion of the presser-foot so as to have its lower surface in alinement with the usual tread surface of the presser-foot.

' The inner side of the tongue 12 merges into a curved surface or u per folding scroll 15 forming a side wall of a slot 16 cut into the plate 13. The lower surface of the tongue 12 merges into a ldownwardly and then inwardly curved surface or lower folding scroll 17 positioned below the scroll 15 and having its free edge spaced from the tread surface 0f the presser-foot. It will be observed that the scrolls 15 and 17 are effective to complete the folding of the margins of the material rearward of the point of seamformation, the needle aperture in the presser-foot being indicated at 18 and in the throat-plate at 19. It may be mentioned that the upper scroll 15 functions in a manner similar to the corresponding scroll disclosed in the prior patent hereinbefore referred to, the essential difference between the two constructions being the present provision of a lower folding scroll and cooperating devices to improve the product.

.Cooperating with the lower scroll 17 tol turn under the margin of the lower ply of material is an inclined edge 4 of an element of the feed-dog 4, which as particularly illustrated in Fig. 7 advances during the feeding movement of the feed-dog to a point immediately in advance of the free edge of the scroll 17, acting t0 crowd the margin of the material against said scroll to thereby assistin folding said margin. Further assistance tow ard this end is given by the element 4" of thel feed-dog 4, which acts on the folded margin rearward of the folding scrolls. This element 4 of the feed-dog by its feeding action maintains the margins of the lies in proper position with respect to the olding scrolls so as to compel the latter to perform their function of folding said margins, i. e., it o'bviates any possible tendency of the margins 'to merely ride the curved surfaces of the scrolls without properly folding. The element'4 of the feeddog by its pressure, during'feeding movement, against the tread surface of the presser-foot also serves to crease the folded margins so that they present the apearanee of having been ironed. The space 20 provided intermediate the inclined edge 4 and the element 4 of the feed-dog affords a clearance for the depending scroll 17 and it will be observed that the elements 4, 4, 15 and 1 7 are substantially in alnement, this arrangement producing the more perfect work.

The trimming mechanism herein shown is of well known construction and comprises a stationary or ledger-blade 21 which may be formed integral with the throat-plate 3 or secured thereto as by means of a screw 22 and positioning pin 23. The ledger-blade is partly cut away at 24 to provide additional clearance for the lower scroll 17. A movable trimmer-blade 25 is adjustably secured by means of a screw 26 to the trimmer-blade carrier 27, mounted on a rock-shaft 28 supported in suitable bearings formed in the bracket 29 projecting, upwardly from the cloth-plate of the machine. To the rockshaft 28 is secured an arm 30 having a fork, embracing an eccentric 31 on an actuating shaft 32 and by means of which the trimmer is vibrated.

In operation, two superposed plies of material m and lm. are passed underneath the presser-foot 9 to the stitch-forming mechanism and upon opposite sides of the resilient' tongue 12, i. e., one above and one below said tongue. While being united by the stitches, the margins of the material are acted upon 'by the trimmer-blade 25 and severed closely adjacent to the outer edge of the tongue 1.2. As the trimmed margin of the stitched upper ply m is fed forward by the feed-dog, it abuts against the folding scroll 15, being turned upwardly and folded back upon itself. Likewise the margin of the lower ply m abuts against the folding scroll 17, heilig turned downwardly and folded .back upon itself so that when the plies of the finished product are opened out as shown in Fig. S, the united margins are neatly folded back.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what we claim herein is 1. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, feeding mechanism, and a plurality of folding scrolls concluding their folding action rearward of the point of seam formation to completely fold back a plurality of united margins of superposed plies of material in the operation of uniting the plies by stitches.

2. In a sewing machine, in combination` stitch-forming mechanism for uniting the margins of a plurality of super-posed plies of material, feeding mechanism, and a presser-foot having a plurality of folding scrolls concluding their folding action in the rear of the point of seam formation to completely fold back a plurality of the margins of said plies.

3. In a sewing machine, in combination,

stitch-forming mechanism for uniting the helene@ 5. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, a `presser-foot having a work-engaging tread surface, an edge-turning scroll below the pressenfoot tread surface, and feeding mechanism including a feed-dog having an element terminating its feeding movement immediately in advance of said scroll.

6. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, a presser-foot, an edgeturning scroll rearward of the point of seam formation, and feeding mechanism including 4a feedingelement having its en tire feeding movement rearward of said edge-turning scroll.

7. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, a presser-foot having a work-engaging tread surface, an edge-turning scroll below the presser-foot tread surface rearward of the point of seam formation, and feeding mechanism including a feeding element having feed movements rearward of said edge-turning scroll.

8. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, feeding mechanism including spaced and alined feeding elements, and an edge-turning scroll intermediate and alined with said spaced feeding elements.

9. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, feeding mecha-y nism including spaced and alined feeding elements -having feeding movements rear- Ward of the point of seam formation, and edge-turning means intermediate said spaced feeding elements.`

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

CARLYLE W. THOMAS. PHILIP W. SOMERS.

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